Riders like Fredrick Chaves were less than pleased to hear of the development.

“Ouch,” he said. “90 degrees outside, you could be tired, you could be walking a long distance…it’s very inconvenient.”

But Chaves and other riders may not be left standing for too long: if the city can agree to a new contract with rival firm Martin Outdoor next week, temporary benches could soon replace those that have been removed.